Heat meltdown
The Bulls flat out embarrassed the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs. When the Bulls lost to the Nets to end the season and thus put themselves up against the Heat and the Pistons instead of the Wizards and the Nets or Raptors, I looked at it as a huge mistake. But the Bulls honestly looked like they lost on purpose to the Nets so they could play the Heat in the first round.
They clearly humiliated the defending champions. But when you look a little deeper… Could you really be surprised?
The Heat came into this season still celebrating last year. They reminded me of a free agent who just got paid and said “Wow, it’s over; I can rest now.” Jerome James of the Knicks comes to mind.
The Heat forgot how hard it took them to win their first NBA title. I wonder if they remembered how bad it looked being down 0-2 to the Mavericks last year in the Finals and on the way to being down 0-3 until Dwyane Wade went ballistic.
The Heat players talked about unity and effort. They talked about hunger and respect, but yet the effort they had for representing a champion the following year was disrespectful. The Heat did not represent a true champion the way multiple champions did – like the Lakers, Celtics, Pistons, Rockets and Bulls of past years.
That’s why I respect those past teams so much – because they could have laid down or become satisfied, but the hunger remained. They wanted more.
I am sure most critics will point the finger at Shaquille O’Neal and Dwyane Wade, but that would be wrong. They are not to blame for this meltdown. It was the players around them that let Miami down.
Let me explain why.
When I played with the Rockets in the 1996-97 season, we were preparing to go against the Utah Jazz for the Western Conference championship. We had a players-only meeting to air out some feelings and strategy and when it came time for me to say something, I laid it out like this…
I pointed at Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler and said, “If we are waiting for these two to carry us to the Finals, then we might possibly fail.” I went on to say that it was wrong to expect two players that have already accomplished the feat to do it again.
I then pointed to Charles Barkley and every other player in the room that had not won a title or was a role player on a title team. I said, “This is on us, not them. They have won already and if they do not win another, they have succeeded and lived up to their star status.”
Then I said that we, on the other hand, would just become players who failed to win a championship. I said that we had to prove to them that we wanted it badly and that we were willing to add everything and then some to help them reach the level to carry us to a championship and only then would I expect those two to climb to the level that we expected of them.
We failed that year, but I can honestly say every player on that Rocket team made every effort to make things easier on our stars.
I wonder if Shaq and Wade feel like their supporting cast let them down, because they did not reach the level of consistency they had last year.
Key players like Udonis Haslem, Antoine Walker, James Posey, Gary Payton and Jason Williams, who played a role in the title last season, were non-factors in this series.
The Heat organization suspended Walker and Posey earlier in the year for being out of shape and that was the first sign of the meltdown. The Heat should have known that they went to war with players that have fought for many years and probably should have looked to go with a younger nucleus this season, but Pat Riley is a very loyal coach and I suspect he felt the mistake in not going younger once training camp started and he noticed players like Walker and Payton had aged even more.
Maybe that’s why Riley decided to leave the team for surgery, but sending a message before he left by suspending Walker and Posey.
The only Heat role player that played with passion this season was Alonzo Mourning. He was the single reason why the Heat stayed competitive while Shaq was out with injury. It was not surprising that Mourning played well despite winning his first championship. After having a kidney transplant, he will never take anything for granted the rest of his life. I guess it was fitting that Mourning was the only role player to stand tall in the final game by scoring 14 points.
I will excuse Gary Payton as well because at his age and the minutes he has played in his career. He really struggled to maintain any consistency this year.
The Heat will undoubtedly be a different team around Shaq and Wade next season and if Riley can pick up a key free agent or two, things could change again for the better next season. But until then, Miami will have to suffer through the embarrassment of being swept in the first round.
JMG Said,
May 1, 2007 @ 1:29 pm
Eddie, as much as i respect your basketball career, knowledge, and commentary, I do not agree that you cannot point the fingers to the Heat’s stars. One point I want to make is that the role players feed off of the star’s ability to enhance effort, emotion, and intensity. The Bulls showed more drive….more passion, and it wasn’t their role players that drove them. It was their newly crowned “stars”.
Now how that relates to my point is that I think the Heat wasted 100 million dollars by signing a Shaq that has shown the World that he is ok with mediocrity too often and that he is not the “most dominant force” in the game today as the media loves to say about the big man. His lazy approach to the season and lackluster play paved the way for his team. Constantly being out of shape, a poor rebounder for his size, a defensive joke at his position, and one of the worst free throw shooters historically is hardly “dominant” and was a reflection of his overall play and a part of the general psychology that this team carried.
I give D. Wade credit because he is everything that a champion is defined as. To play through that type of injury and playing hard was an admirable feat. But, i never liked the attitude that he showed towards the young Bulls. Giving them no credit while being down 2-0, or acknowledging their defense against him that limited him and stopped him from being ‘Super D. Wade” like he was in last year’s playoffs.
This to me is how the stars let their team down as well, because they “lead by example”…..but the example given was one that spelled their doom. And now the Chicago Bulls just made a name for themselves, regardless of how far they go from this point forward by embarrassing the former NBA champions….and soon to be forgotten!
Jason Said,
May 1, 2007 @ 3:32 pm
Look, we should be talking about how good the Bulls are, not how bad the Heat are. Go BULLS, we knew this would happen from game one of this season. Peace.
Kelvin Jones Said,
May 1, 2007 @ 4:02 pm
Eddie, I agree with you. The role players did not come through. However, I must say that some of the blame should be shared by Shaq and Coach Riles (D-Wade should be given a pass as he is a true champion). Plus you have to consider that the young Bulls, by adding Ben Wallace are a tough, tough defensive team. I blame Shaq because if you are dominant, you should be able to at least make free throws. Shaq, even at his advanced age could still score 30 points a game if he could just shoot 60% from the line. Coach Riles, knowing that he has an older team, should have developed his younger guys coming into the season. I love my Heat but I am glad they are out as now I will not have a heart attack watching them play. Hopefully, they learned something by being humiliated and come back strong next season.
WILLIAM LIMON Said,
May 1, 2007 @ 4:27 pm
COME ON EDDIE, NO FAULT FOR MR TURNOVER WADE AND CANT MAKE A FREE SHOT ONEAL. HEY AND FOR ALL THE WADE FANS GET REAL,
THIS TEAM WAS PLAYING REALLY GREAT BASKETBALL WITHOUGHT HIM
TILL HE CAME BACK TO SCREW EVERYTHING… ARE YOU GUYS BLIND.
mike Said,
May 1, 2007 @ 4:48 pm
Great players, Championship teams don’t get swept! BOTTOM LINE! There have been two championship teams to be given the broom in the Finals, look it up. But, for Wade and SHAQ to allow this to happen in the FIRST ROUND is shameful. I’ve heard all the excuses, most of them are valid. But, competitive spirit and professional pride has to be strong enough to give your fans at least ONE WIN on the home court.
Sucks to be a HEAT fan-
Arthur Said,
May 1, 2007 @ 5:34 pm
Dwayne Wade is a joke. He did not win this series because he was not handed the series (although the refs tried to give him a game in Game 3). He is the single most overrated player in the last decade. His style of play will lead to his physical demise and 20 years from now, no one will remember him.
Ronald Said,
May 1, 2007 @ 5:55 pm
Eddie, I couldn’t agree with you more. The heat depend on Shaq and Wade to much and that is what ultimately cost them. They were a good team without them, the Bull are a great team in comparison. The Heat became satisifed. You could even hear it in the comments some of them made, they thought they could turn it on. While most teams East and West were playing hard for seed position the heat were playing hard to make the playoffs. The last run they had this season was a hail mary attempt to try to defend their crown.. they ran smack into the team that disgrace them on ring night and the results hadn’t changed since Nov. 1. My hats are off to the bulls and I expect Pistons - Bulls to be a war.
the-ian Said,
May 1, 2007 @ 6:09 pm
Happy birthday Eddie!
JP Said,
May 1, 2007 @ 6:40 pm
This proves that the Lakers were correct in trading Shaq!
Kobe over Shaq? Any day of the week.
Yeah, Shaq got his 4 rings but he won’t see more unless he mooches some more off another good shooting guard or the Baddest Player on the Planet, AKA…Kobe Bryant!
Shaq went to a already good team with a subpar conference, and beat the beat up and weak minded (as we see again this year) Dallas Mavericks! Oh by the way Dwayne, I guess Stern never made the call to the refs this year!
Michael Said,
May 1, 2007 @ 7:14 pm
Arthur,
I find it funny how little you know about basketball. The performance Wade gave in last years finals will alone make him one of the most remembered players of all time. You don’t put on a show like that and then become forgotten. Granted, he has played poor since coming back from dislocating his shoulder, but before that ever happened, he was the best player in the league, second to no one.
Derek Osika Said,
May 1, 2007 @ 8:18 pm
I think your right to a degree, Shaq had a solid series but his attitude sucked. Wade couldn’t carry the team.
Dane Said,
May 1, 2007 @ 8:36 pm
JMG… are you serious? Shaq, a poor rebounder for his position? He doesn’t get a double digit rebound season for the first time in 15 years and all of a sudden he’s a poor rebounder? Do you have any idea how many people in the NBA DON’T get double digit rebounds, let alone do it for 14 straight years? Constantly out of shape? The guy’s body fat is 5% or less and he works out often. Do people like you really do research or do you just like to follow media propaganda used tarnish the image of players because of personal beliefs? The fact is that he is 35 years old. Realistically, no one still does 20 ppg and 10 rpg at 35, let alone a person who was hurt for most of the season and never really got his legs back under him.
And Arthur… another one. Wade, overrated? Based on efficiency ranking, Wade was #2 behind Kevin Garnett before he got hurt. That makes him one of the most productive players in the league. And you dare to say he’s overrated? Are refs the reason he makes jumpshots? Are refs the reason he’s won games with those jumpshots? Are you going to be just like hundreds of other people that want to sorely focus on his freethrows? Oh, and he won’t be remembered? That’s a joke, considering he’s one of the most recognizable figures in all of sports right now, has a championship, and is widely recognized (by people with sense) as a top 5 player in the league. You really have no clue of what you’re talking about.
KU Said,
May 1, 2007 @ 8:36 pm
First off Shaq brought a championship in last year so the trade was good. To take a Miami heat team that was bad and in two years make a championship? thats good. Dwayne Wade is not the best player in the league but hes up there for sure. No two superstars can hope to carry their team in a best of seven series. The five-six player onslaught of the Bulls was way to much for the heat.
Eddie you are right, the role players needed to step up. They don’t have enough youth or power coming off the bench.
By the way William Limon, do you honestly think the heat are better without D-wade. Come on think before you write something
Michael Said,
May 1, 2007 @ 9:46 pm
The heat were never going to win without Dwanye Wade. Hello people he is the reason why Miami won last year. He could not be stoped. E.J is straight up correct with all his assumptions. Once and a while your stars can perform miracles but not on a consistent basis, unless your the greatest player of all time e.i Michael Jordan. Without the supporting cast performing and stepping up to the challenge you might as well pack up and go home. Antwane walker is a slacker. Payton is aged. They should Gut the team now and start fresh, build around D wade because if they don’t they’ll just end up wasting time.
GERARD Said,
May 1, 2007 @ 10:25 pm
Hey JP,
The lakers were very wrong in trading shaq because it shows that their MR. $130 plus million, ME,MYSELF,AND KOBE guy was a dud w/o shaq. NO SHAQ, NO CHAMPIONSHIP! He scored consecutives 50, 60 points, and 81 points during last year’s and this year’s regular season because he always HAD the ball and MUST ALWAYS HAVE THE BALL. But come playoff time, game 7 against phoenix last year when it really matters most, when the lakers NEED HIM TO HAVE THE BALL, WHEN THE LAKERS NEED HIM TO GO BERSERK LIKE HE DID DURING THE REGULAR SEASON, HE DISAPPEARED! RESULT? the Lakers lost the series to which they are leading 3-1 because MR.ME, MYSELF AND KOBE DOESN’T WANT THE BALL COME CRUNCH TIME! You said he is the baddest player on the planet? yeah right, he is the baddest player on a mediocre team that cannot get pass the 1st round even with phil and the triangle around. ALWAYS WANTED TO BE LIKE MJ BUT THE TRUTH, HE WILL ONLY BE REMEMBERED AS THE GREATEST 2ND BANANA IN LAKERS HISTORY!
brat Said,
May 1, 2007 @ 11:26 pm
Here’s the thing… when the Heat got Antoine, Payton, and Mourning (together with Shaq), everyone knew their window to be serious contenders was pretty small. But I don’t think anyone expected that window to last one year. Having said that though, they did win the championship last year, so mission accomplished.
brat Said,
May 1, 2007 @ 11:29 pm
Ohh, and the Bulls have been playing great all year. They were just too young, too athletic, and had too much skill in the end.
Nick Said,
May 1, 2007 @ 11:29 pm
How ironic, the first game, getting their rings, they got pulverized on home court by the same team the just swept them. It was obvious that Walker, Payton and the other veterans that should’ve helped, got lazy over the summer. They never set their mind to this season even after Wade and Shaq got injured. And before that, Wade carried the load for them, what does that say of them? ALthough, I do have to respect Wade for staying at top shape.
Erik Said,
May 2, 2007 @ 12:03 am
1st off)
You are right….the Heat are pathetic with their supporting cast!
I am a die-hard heat fan BUT I am really happy this happened to them because riley needed a hit of reality….
they need NEW YOUNG and ATHLETIC players…..
NOT old wash ups
Alex Said,
May 2, 2007 @ 1:20 am
It’s the entire Bulls teams fault that the Heat lost. The Baby Bulls were just too good. I mean, yes, the Heat were old, their role players did not live up to the expectations, blah blah blah. It’s all true, but if you think about it, when it’s all said and done, the only way the Heat even would have stood a chance was with D-Wade healthy, which you can’t really blame anyone (well, maybe Shane Battier, but that’s a completely different blame game). Even so, with a healthy D-Wade, there’d still be Thabo on him, and a still-hungry Big Ben in the back.
Shaq is not what he used to be. D-Wade is hurt. Antoine Walker and James Posey are becoming headcases (despite Posey’s hustle plays), Jason Williams has never lived to potential, and Payton is still considered an all-time great, but he’s old now.
I can’t say that this loss was on Pat Riley, but taking off in the middle of the season had nothing to do with “personal problems” (at least not in my view, and I know you didn’t say it was that, Eddie, or maybe it was “injury”). In my book, the reason Pat Riley took that extended amount of time to be gone was because he didn’t want to look bad (he left the team as coach and when Stan Van Gundy finally turned it around, SVG gets fired and Riles steps in. What’s wrong with this picture? This is just an extension of his self-advertising.) When the team gets back to .500, he is suddenly healthy again. Hmm…it begs the question: Is Riley really that much of a wimp as a coach to have to back out everytime he’s faced with adversity?
Well, this turned into a rant about Pat Riley. However, while it was everyone’s fault, both the Bulls for just being that good, or the Heat’s inability to stay focused, Scott Skiles tough coaching, or Pat Riley’s extended leaves, the Bulls won their first series since 1998, the last Michael Jordan year. They deserved it. I hope to see them in the NBA Finals.
WILLIAM LIMON Said,
May 2, 2007 @ 1:34 am
ONE THING IS FOR SURE! WADE’S GAME IS NOTHING BUT A PHYSICAL
GAME, HE JUST GOES FULL SPEED TO THE BASKET AND GETS FOULED
( OR DOES HE? ) AND WHEN HE DOES DO THIS HE ALWAYS HAS ONEAL AND THE REFS TO SAVE HIS BUTT!!! HIS GAME IS BASED ON HIS SPEED
AND PHISICAL ABILITY. BUT HE DOES NOT HAVE THE TALENT ( OR SHOT,RANGE,DEFENSE,OVERALL GAME ) THAT KOBE AND JORDAN HAVE. KOBE IS THE GREATEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW
BUT NO MATTER WHAT HE DOES HE GETS HATE!…
PEOPLE HAVE TO KNOW THAT KOBE IS THE TOP PLAYER, BUT HE HAS THE WORST TEAM IN BASKETBALL… AND TRUST ME ON THIS ONE
THEY SOMETIMES LOOK LIKE SOMBIES.. I JUST HOPE THEY DONT WASTE KOBE AWAY… HE IS GREAT TO WATCH.
WILLIAM LIMON Said,
May 2, 2007 @ 1:53 am
HEY GERALD, GAME 7 LAKERS VS SUNS IF YOU SAW THE GAME YOU WILL KNOW THAT THE LAKERS TEAM WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND, EXCEPT THE ONE WHO HAS THE WHOLE WORLD HATING HIM BECAUSE
THEY JUST CAN’T LIVE WITH THE FACT THAT HE IS THE BEST.
IF I RECALL KOBE SHOWED UP TO PLAY UNLIKE HIS SO CALLED NBA TEAM. HE WAS ON FREEEAAAKING FIRE AND STILL THE SORRY LAKERS
SHOWED NO LIFE… SECOND HALF.. WHAT SECOND HALF KOBE WAS IN HOLLYWOOD BY THAT TIME… I MEAN TALK ABOUT SENDING A MESSAGE….. 3 SHOTS … PLEASE … THANK YOU KOBE FOR SHOWING EVERYONE YOUR THE MAN… AND OHHH YEAA.. THE REST..
rbw Said,
May 2, 2007 @ 6:24 am
Eddie,
I respect you and i’ve met you, and i disagree with you! It wasn’t the supporting cast who lost the series for the HEAT as witnessed by the phenomenal effort on offense and rebounding given by James Posey in game 4. Eddie Jones stepped up in Wade’s absence and was the primary scorer in half court sets for 23 games, but didn’t get minutes. Udonis is a consistent 17-18ft scorer as well as Mr. Intangible but never goes outside of himself. It’s the reason the HEAT kept him in South Florida in the first place. Make a few shots here or there? Yes. But you can’t expect 20 -15 when he’s not been that guy.
What lost the game was a lack of leadership on the court (which your teams always were fortunate to have), as well as paltry free throw shooting by the Bigs! In addition, Riley changed everything that had been working in Wades absence to search for last years answers. Wade wasn’t himself, so go away from using him as a primary.
This team must make changes and make them quickly, or the embarassment that you mention will show its face again
Steve Said,
May 2, 2007 @ 10:53 am
Eddie, how about giving some credit to the Chicago Bulls? Not one mention about any of the Bulls players being a big reason for the meltdown. I disagree with you.
Steve Said,
May 2, 2007 @ 10:56 am
Most critics will point the finger at Wade and Shaq, and then credit the Chicago Bulls. There’s a reason why these critics share this opinion, and reasons why you have yours.
Mike Said,
May 2, 2007 @ 12:08 pm
looks like its 1 and done for the heat, thats what you get for 130,000,000. JMG is right, shaq was a great player but his poor work ethic and dwades lack of respect make for poor leaders.
gerard you said that trading shaq was a bad idea but kobe is 7 years shaqs junior and is the best player on the planet. if the lakers had shaq instead of kobe, not only would they not have won a championship but the franchise would be on the decline for the next 5 years.
the fact that kobe has a work ethic like no one in the league and has the desire to still improve makes him the ideal franchise player. i love d wade but a kobe bryant he is not. so what the heat are left with is a star player who is soft (hurt his shoulder so gets wheelchaired out of the arena..wats that about.) and a team of over 30’s. yeah miami you won your ring, time to rebuild now.
Matt Said,
May 2, 2007 @ 12:20 pm
I rather enjoyed watching Miami get smacked around. The Bulls earned the wins and deserve some respect. As for Mr Wade; go get your surgury and enjoy rebuilding.
Kemal Budak Said,
May 2, 2007 @ 1:47 pm
if the players in a team lose their enthusiasm, it will be difficult for them to win the games. that’s it. this is like a law of gravity. in the opening night of the season, this result was obvious. in a possible match-up, an objective person would have guessed that the hungry bulls team could eliminate the heat.
on the other hand, even if the whole heat team had the necessary enthusiasm, it would be again very difficult for them to win this series, since wade was not 100 % healthy, shaq was no more a dominant shaq and payton and mourning were one year older than last year. this is another easy point to comprehend.
LJ Said,
May 2, 2007 @ 3:00 pm
WOW!! anyone who hates on d-wade is terrible and obviously doesnt have any type of bball IQ. If he is so overrated and horrible and is only a superstar because of the referee’s lets see what would happen if D-Wade was let go by the Heat? The whole league would be trying to sign him. He is regarded as one of the best players in the league hands down. What game are you guys watching that try to hate on him? Amazing. What game are you watching arthur? This man risked further injury to his shoulder coming back to help his team and he gets persecuted because he didnt play good. I would like to see you arthur have his injury and play like nothing happened to you. Know what ur talking about before submitting a comment. PLEASE!!!!!!!!!
all challengers accepted! Said,
May 2, 2007 @ 4:19 pm
In the famous words of former Rocket’s coach Rudy Tomjanovich: “Never underestimate the heart of a champion”. Surely, the Heat have proven this year that they were greatly and wrongly OVERESTIMATED. The Miami Heat laid down. They surrendered their title without as much as a fight. Heat fans —– stop kidding yourselves. You’re in denial. Stop making excuses. The first step to rectifying a problem is to first admit to having one.
Forget about: Wade being hurt; Shaq losing a step; GP and Zo being old. The real reason why Miami will never win again is simple. Shaq is no longer the feared player that he once was. Players are challenging him like never before - attacking the rim - bringing it straight into his chest. Shaq was actually trying to take charges when he used to put dudes on their back. Because of rule changes and a broken down body, Shaq can no longer dish out punishment (and take it) like he did in L.A. And, therefore cannot be the same dominating - intimidating presence that every champion needs.
Zo compensated for him substantially last year. But, it’s over now. Accept it!!
Leonard Said,
May 2, 2007 @ 7:32 pm
Seems like everybody wants to find someone to put the blame on but what happen was a combination of things. D-Wade wasn’t 100% and the Heat still tried to play through him. Also they had began to play well without him while having the offense go through Shaq, when he returned they only played this way in the first half and were sucessful. but in the 4th they deffered to an injured Wade and paid the price. Chicago also was the worst opponent for a older slower team like Miami from the beginining.
Brian D. Said,
May 2, 2007 @ 7:48 pm
Hey-
It’s not fair to include Antoine Walker in this group, or to include his picture at the top–this implies that he was the biggest culprit of all. But when you look at the facts, rather than making generalizations, Walker had a good series. For starters, he was one of only three Heat players that scored in double figures each of the first three games (I don’t need to name the other two for you). He went 8 for 16 from three point range for the series. He struggles at the foul line, yet was poised enough to go 9 for 11–not too shabby. Let’s also understand that he was given limited minutes and was coming off the bench. The “other” three starters in the first two games–Haslem, Jones and Williams–shot a combined 12 for 33. Yet it was Walker’s 20 points off the bench in game one that kept the Heat close. His three pointer at the conclusion of the third quarter in game two generated momentum for the team going into the 4th quarter, when they closed within seven. Game three saw Walker post 12 first half points off the bench–effectively turning a six point first quarter deficit into a seven point halftime lead. Game four saw Walker knock down another buzzer beating-momentum building three-this time at the end of the first quarter. And finally, Antoine made some savvy plays on defense in this series. It’s a challenge for a natural 4 to guard players at the 3, but Antoine did a respectable job. Some steals and strips, block of Hinrich, being in the proper position, etc.
Wade made turnover after turnover in this series. And Shaq couldn’t stay out of foul trouble. And Pat Riley let his team down–he should have kept the starting five that won him a title last year instead of getting cute and starting Eddie Jones or Jason Kapono, a darling of Riley’s who was M.I.A. for most of this series and demonstrated that he was clearly not ready for primetime. So stop with the cliches–we all know that Walker is a convenient scapegoat for most people but it’s unfortunate to see a professional commentator falling into this predictable trap.
Ravor Said,
May 2, 2007 @ 10:40 pm
hey…give where the credit is due…the Bulls are just better than the Heat…that’s it…last year’s championship was just a fluke…and they are the worst champions in 10 years…the 1999 Spurs are even better than them..come on..the BULLS are JUST WAY BETTER THAN THE HEAT…
antoineLOL Said,
May 2, 2007 @ 11:59 pm
^^actually the picture of antoine woalker fits perfectly in this topic as hes the biggest arrogant washup in the entire heat lineup (not to mention top in the league). no wonder ya’all been seeing dwade developing some bad habits hinself, how can you blame him with a bunch of arrogant vets around him. shaq and payton ring any bells? during their prime they were good so ppl tend totolerated- some even idolized - their bad attitudes, but now we are all seing the trash that they really are. be hones with yourself for one minute and think, is that how you want your kid growing up to be, disrespecting and undermining other ppl. imo, sorry to dwade if he spill his guts out trying to win, but the heat deserve the humiliation to teach them a lesson in humility.
JMG Said,
May 3, 2007 @ 9:02 am
“JMG… are you serious? Shaq, a poor rebounder for his position? He doesn’t get a double digit rebound season for the first time in 15 years and all of a sudden he’s a poor rebounder? Do you have any idea how many people in the NBA DON’T get double digit rebounds, let alone do it for 14 straight years? Constantly out of shape? The guy’s body fat is 5% or less and he works out often. Do people like you really do research or do you just like to follow media propaganda used tarnish the image of players because of personal beliefs? The fact is that he is 35 years old. Realistically, no one still does 20 ppg and 10 rpg at 35, let alone a person who was hurt for most of the season and never really got his legs back under him.”
Yes Dane, A POOR rebounder for his position. Getting double digit rebounds does not make you a “great” rebounder. For his size he should never get less than 10 boards a game. But the point is that being a “great” rebounder takes an incredible effort, mechanics, and mastering the science of missed shots. Shaq has never lead the league in rebounding which I find mind boggling. Yet a Dennis Rodman who is extremely undersized has multiple times because he made himself into a great rebounder. The difference in work ethic and desire to be great is shown when comparing Shaq to Dennis in this case, and many other players.
Again, Shaq is labeled as the most dominant force in the league……but he has NEVER been a dominant rebounder, shot blocker, free throw shooter, or defensive player because, like everyone who has followed Shaq knows, is because he has a very lazy approach to the game. That is a fact. Shaq was the guy who would rather film movies and record rap albums during the Summer when everyone else was perfecting their game. That is the same thing with him being “out of shape”. 5% body fat…..great. But showing up to camp overweight because you did cameo shots over the Summer or not wanting to get injuries taken care of in the Summer because you want to be a big kid all Summer long, so you show up to camp rehabbing from an operation, proves that your work ethic and dedication to getting better and the team is suspect. Everything I said was “fact”, not hearsay. And the idea that you chose 2 out of 5 things I said negative about Shaq proves that you were just arguing because you like him, but not to objectively judge or debate the situation like I am…….
And for the record, I like Shaq, but being a Laker fan, I have never liked his approach to the game and willingness to accept mediocre approach defensive and improving.
Ruben Said,
May 3, 2007 @ 10:06 am
To all you Dwayne Wade haters:
You are all incredibly stupid to think that Wade is overrated. first of all he averages more assists and shoots for a better fg% than kobe, or labron. Second of all, and i’ll quote pat riley wade’s last 4 games of the 2006 nba finals was the best performance he’s ever seen in the nba. the refs didn’t win us the finals, wade did and won nba finals mvp which is something Kobe doesn’t and will never have.
Heat #!
Sam Mammen Said,
May 3, 2007 @ 11:04 am
Wade and Shaq play against the Heat has been solid…. you can’t ask much more out of the Injured D-Wade and quickly aging Shaq… he is still that dominant force down low… its just that the new NBA rules, have hurt his game…
NEW ROLE players is what they NEED…
I say trade EVERYONE… exept Kapono, and Haslem… unless they ask for too much money… aim for a YOUNGER core…average age 24-27….
AJ Said,
May 3, 2007 @ 12:27 pm
To all D-Wade Lovers:
D-Wade is beat up. I mean he is the one that lost them the finals trying to come back in the playoffs off of an injury????? I mean who is he kidding the first two games he couldnt make shot to save his life. Let’s all be honest the only reason why Wade is good is because of Shaq. Give Lebron Shaq and let’s see how good the Cav’s become and how bad the Heat and D-wade really are.
carlton papillion Said,
May 3, 2007 @ 1:21 pm
maimi heat sucks they did’nt when the championship the referees did they send dwayne wade to the free throw line for barely touching him a real champion does it and doesnt get put out until the finals thank you and shaq is just a moron
AJ Said,
May 3, 2007 @ 1:29 pm
To D-Wade Lovers:
D-Wade is beat up. He is the reason the lost. Trying to come back in playoffs off of a shoulder injury is idiotic. He should of sat on the bench let some great players like Antoine come off the bench. D-Wade is overrated and injury prone. Let’s all face it the only reason why D-Wade won MVP and a championship is because of Shaq. Maybe D-Wade should of stayed in school a little longer became a doctor and treat his own injury prone self. I am glad he got and MVP and a ring because he will never see either again. Once Shaq leaves everyone will see how horrible and beat up D-Wade really is.
Anthony Said,
May 4, 2007 @ 12:36 pm
Eddie, it is true Alonzo was the a guy who never caved in for this series, but I will always hate him (coming from a Raptor Fan) for being an injury-lie for his past years.
Shaq was already breaking down though playing well enough and missing free-throws, so i excuse him. Wade on the other hand was who i felt a big chunk to blame should be put on for their loss because he came in not looking the same and drove the hoop with fear of his shoulder. You can see it, and he does not have enough to pull up for a successful jumper in the lane.
They need to go younger, and rid of these veteran head-cases like Walker, Posey, and White-Chocolate. Kapono earned his stripes, and so did Chris Quinn.
Richard Said,
May 4, 2007 @ 2:12 pm
Role players in the game of basketball is key in helping superstars elevate to the championship level. Looking back to the previous dominant/consistent champions the Bulls, Rockets, and Lakers rely heavily on their role players in order to reach the pinnacle of the NBA. The Bull’s dominancy in the 90s does not only come from the skills of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, but the contributions of key role players such as Ron Harper, Horace Grant, Bill Cartwright, John Paxon, Steve Kerr, Dennis Rodman, Luc Longley, Brian Williams, and the like. The same is true for the Rockets as Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler requires Robert Horry, Sam Cassell, Mario Elie, Kenny Smith, and Vernon Maxwell to propel them to their titles in 1994 and 1995. Role players also play a significant role during the Lakers dynasty from 2000-2002 as Robert Horry, Rick Fox, Derek Fisher, Ron Harper, and Horace Grant hit key shots and play exceptional defense in aiding Shaq and Kobe to three consecutive championships.
The same cannot be said for the Miami Heat team this year. The key role players on this team have shown signs of complacency from the beginning of the season. Jason Williams and Udonis Haslem has not shown the intensity and the level of play in the previous season and do very little in the first round series. Antoine Walker and James Posey became distractions to the team as both did not meet team standards for fitness and Posey gets a DUI right before the start of the playoffs. The only role player that plays his heart out throughout the season and the playoffs is Alonzo Mourning. Mourning has filled in minutes for the injured Shaq and plays with hunger as he scores, rebounds, and blocks three or more shots per game, displaying that he is a true champion at heart as he has shown throughout his collegian and professional careers.
WILLIAM LIMON Said,
May 4, 2007 @ 5:02 pm
IF KOBE WAS IN THE HEAT TODAY( WITH ONEAL )THEY WIN.
IF WADE WAS WITH THE LAKERS THEY DONT MAKE THE PLAYOFFS.
WADE IS WHAT HE IS BECAUSE OF THE SO CALLED SUPERMAN HE HAS ON HIS SIDE. TAKE AWAY HIS DRIVE TO THE HOLE AND ALL YOU HAVE IS A GUY WITH A LOUSY SHOT. HIS SHOT MIGHT GET BETTER WITH TIME BUT YOU CAN TELL IT’S NOT A NATURAL SHOT HE HAS.
UNLIKE, YES MR DON’T LEAVE ME OPEN OR I WILL DRAIN SHOTS TILL THE SCORE BOARD HAS NO SPACE.. YES KOBE’S SHOT IS NATURAL…THE GUY SAID EVEN THE THE AIRBALLS HE LAUNCHED VS UTAH FELT GOOD, YOU CANT TELL ME THAT ONCE HE CAUGHT FIRE
FOR THE FIRST TIME HE HASN’T BEEN THE PLAYER TO WATCH…
THE KOBE-SHAQ YEARS WAS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF KOBE CLUTCH SHOOTING…AND TODAY WELL HIS GONE INSANE… BUT HE NEEDS WAY MORE HELP! AT LEAST ON DEFENSE… AND KOBE HATERS DONT TELL ME ABOUT HIS Fg% HE IS CLUTCH AND THE CRAZY LOOKING SHOTS HE TAKES, HE MAKES HALF OF THEM….
ONE WORD… RECOGNIZE… KOBE 3 RINGS X 8 = 24.. KOBE FO SHURE..
José Freitas Said,
May 4, 2007 @ 6:58 pm
Eddie you are right but don’t forget the team was old after last year and it only got worse. No young blood at all, a tired team was a an easy prey for the juvenile Bulls.
Bad management. JW, Payton, Walker and Shaq should retire very soon.
Revmac Said,
May 4, 2007 @ 10:46 pm
Some of the comments I’ve read are incredibly unrealistic, especially concerning D Wade. The Heat lost because the Bulls “proved” themselves to be a better, obviously younger and most of all, hungrier team! Also after how the Mavs “choked” should be an indication that the Heat’s championship was not a “fluke”.
Steve-o Said,
May 5, 2007 @ 2:25 am
People I’ll lay it down for you… Dwayne is an awesome player and there is nothing no-one can say to take that away from him. He is great because He doesn’t attempt to shoot 5+ threes every game, the dude knows what he can do and plus the super athleticism and anyone would give there left nut to be like him.. Tracy Mcgrady and other stars are in oar of his game need I say more? .. Sure he needed shaq, but so did KOBE and Jordan had his Pippen and co! Look at the Lakers situation in the last few years. Team Kobe has been poor. He needed Fox, Fisher, Horry with out them he has struggled dearly. Much of same has happen to the Heat even with Shaq!
Role players are just as vital as stars and only differ in the stats column when wining is on the line!!
Get rid of Payton, Posey and Walker for some fresh players e.g. athletic free agents, who have heart and you’ve got something. Think about it this way you can say Ben Gordon and wade have similar games in a way. Gordon has Wallace who is no way comparable to shaq (yes he is dominant!!!) and give wade players like tyres Thomas and Deng and they would have beaten the bulls without doubt, instead of an old and unwilling supporting cast. Players get old and it can’t be stopped, but Zo still had the fight in him and in his carrier was better than Payton, Posey and Walker and the rest. If you would have said the bulls will beat the heat in the first round earlier in the year, even I would have laughed at you.
But this is the NBA and it is to be expected sometimes.
GetGlasses Said,
May 5, 2007 @ 7:20 pm
The fact that you are trying to blame Walker for the playoff losses shows you never watched the series. It is that simple.
Alonzo Mourning showed up for one game and you are basing your opinion on that game.
Walker if anything tries too hard at times. To say he played with no passion is in fact not true. Why don’t you check his shots per game. He tried to play within the team and he is now getting blamed for it. If he had continued to shoot my guess is you would be saying he shot to much. Its a lose lose situation for him no matter what he does.
The Heat had too many injuries this year losing Shaq for half the year and Wade for the otehr half and the so called bench guys you are blaming for this series loss kept them in the playoffs. Each one stepping up big time when Wade got hurt. IMO the team did not have enough time to gell when Wade came back.
Next year you will see this very team be back and your so called fandom will be questioned every time. Its easy to root for a team when they win. This team had a lot of problems this year.
As for Posey and Walker being so called out of shape that is a lie. It was body fat NOT weight. In fact both were under weight and Riley has a whacked body fat % he expects from this team. There was an article by some health professionel guy and he even said that neither player was fat at all. They were both below average in body fat but why print the facts when you can just imply other wise.
GetGlasses Said,
May 5, 2007 @ 7:24 pm
Funny that when Walker wasin the starting line up the Heat won a title but they couldn’t even win a game without him in the starting line up.
ANYONE that says Walker has no heart is pretty stupid. Even biased hater Celtics fans will tell you different.
kevin Said,
May 5, 2007 @ 8:36 pm
I am shocked that you, a supposed professional insider, writer, and former NBA player, could write something so foolish. Wade and Shaq are superstars and the faces of their team. They are the only players you should be allowed to blame. Look at the Mavs first round loss to the Warriors. Nowitzki gets all the blame. And you’re saying the Heat’s role players are to blame? You’re out of your mind. Shaq and Wade get all the credit when they win a championship (which was handed to them by the refs) and then when they lose you give them an easy exit, using their teammates as the scape goat. Typical.
Mo Said,
May 7, 2007 @ 9:34 am
Listen up. D WADE IS, DODO. You are in no way considered a superstar if you cannot shoot the ROCK. He has no shot, he has no chance.
Thank you, have a good night.
"Ruff" Said,
May 7, 2007 @ 3:52 pm
I too played on a professional level, and I must say, I do agree with Eddie’s comments. To the people that says that the finger goes to Shaq as well due to his “mediocore” attitude, but applaude Wade’s efforts. I say to those young people cause it’s obvious that they are looking at the game through young eyes that marvel at, And1 moves, that promotes breaking the rules of the game that many have worked hard to build up. Shaq is clearly the most dominant in the game, the most decorated, even at the age 35 still requires a double and sometimes a triple team. Shaq is the only player that you can place with an averge team and they are threat to go to the Championship simply because he still requires that type of defense. He’s the most penalized because of his size, he gets called for fouls that others won’t, and others get away with fouling him because he is so big. To those Shaq haters, after year in and year out, game in and game out, the constent pounding this one player takes without almost no lashing out except to the Ref’s which is justified, it will start at sometime take a toll on his body. Things like this must be Too much to understand, not to mention the casual fan can’t see this, and the Shaq-haters won’t see it. Wade on the other hand, I like Wade but he needs much improvement. 1)recognize what stage of the game you’re in and whose carrying the team at the time, and Deferr to your team mate. 2)You don’t stop hustling due to a blown assignment,turnover,or a long rebound that you felt you should get, 3)If you are guarding the main player on the other team you have to learn when and if you should leave your man to help-out, 4)stop crying about missed calls and hustle your butt down the court, and finally 5)STOP WITH ALL THOSE TURNOVERS, ESPECIALLY IN CRUNCH-TIME.
With all that was said Eddie was correct, simply to put it, look at everybody’s numbers from the following year, the reserves didn’t bring it at all. Riley needs to go back as the GM, get a new coach, and get Shaq, and Wade some help.
Peter Said,
May 8, 2007 @ 6:46 am
Eddie said it just perfectly, no extra comments needed. To be honest, I have a feeling that the NBA (and probably the entire pro sports scene as such) in no more about the best of the best. Instead, the level of passion and professional pride diminishes with each year and now too many NBA games seem to me like the better of the two ugly ones prevailes in the misery that even happens to be televised. I’m not a notalgic type of person but really, when I look back at the 90’s and watch some of the games back then… man, that’s a whole different level. Back then it was really stars and superstars, now it’s the best of the rest and the garbage. These younsters get their ultrafat paychecks and that’s it, as for the most of them, you don’t even know they’re still around the next year. Me, as an European, I find myself switching to European leagues more and more recently, as they are truly more fun to watch than most of the NBA matches full of endless ads and timeouts and fouls and TOs and all those untouchable egoes…
Regarding the Bulls-Heat-Pistons issue debated in here - I believe the Heat were really that BAD and now the Bulls face the reality and will get a 4-0 beating, 4-1 at the best. All those experts’ analyses around nba.com and everywhere else, claiming it will be a tough battle… that’s just full of blind bulls..t.
Dane Said,
May 14, 2007 @ 2:12 am
JMG… Shaq never going a game without 10 boards is a pretty ludicrous way of thinking. There are complications involved preventing it, such as the other team snatiching boards from him, the fact that Haslem gets 8-10 boards on his own or, again, the fact Shaq’s legs aren’t under him entirely. Every season there are only about 6-8 guys who average double digit rebounds. It isn’t “easy” regardless of height or position, so again… Shaq has done it for 14 years straight. Regardless of your views on his work ethic, no one in their right mind would consider him a poor rebounder… he’s adequate. Just because he isn’t fierce and hustles for them doesn’t make him lazy. Guys like Ben Wallace and Rodman had more incentives to try harder on the glass. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t ever make it in the league, because they couldn’t do much else. Shaq has to play both sides of the floor… big difference.
And for the rec, I don’t “like” Shaq. I chose two things from what you said because those are the things that caught my attention. I actually agreed with everything else you said. You don’t have to be a “fan” of a player to disagree with things. Shaq gets an unfair rap for a being a fat lazy oaf that doesn’t work on his game, but the guy works out consistently. No one does what he does without practice or some kind of motivation.
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January 26, 2009 @ 6:10 am
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